A curious game of political musical chairs is looming after the decision to axe one of Labour's safest Tyneside seats at the next General Election.

The number of Parliamentary constituencies in Tyne & Wear will reduced from 13 to 12 following boundary changes.

The biggest problem is that veteran MP David Clelland's Tyne Bridge seat, which takes in riverside areas of Newcastle and Gateshead, disappears.

In the shake-up, Gateshead East & Washington West, held by newcomer Sharon Hodgson, also goes and there will be a new Washington & Sunderland West constituency.

If, as expected, one of the area's MPs stands down, there are enough seats to go around, on paper at least. But it's not as simple as that.

There will be a new Gateshead borough seat and the assumption was Mr Clelland would slot into that and Ms Hodgson would move to Washington.

But both have their roots in Gateshead and one insider told me Ms Hodgson, who after just a year in Parliament has already become a ministerial aide, could well decide she wants to seek the nomination in her home town.

If there is a contest, the loser could then seek the Washington nomination, if the seat is still open.

The complication is if Mr Clelland loses and the party decides on an all-women short list in Washington, that would leave him out in the cold.

The next General Election seems a long way off but Labour's selection process will get under way later this year and the final decisions are expected by next summer.

Durham North MP Kevan Jones, pictured, was working his in office when an anthrax scare closed down the Commons.

He popped out to see what was happening and discovered members of the public locked in the building unable to leave until white powder which had been scattered around the Central Lobby was declared safe. "The prospect of being entombed in the House of Commons with MPs must have seemed like a fate worse than death for them," commented Mr Jones drily.

Lib Dem Mike Cookson, who shops at Newcastle's Grainger Market, rejects criticism that it is losing its identity following a major revamp.

The fuss comes after a Chronicle reader voiced concern at the "gentrification" of the historic market. She complained about chic cafes aimed at middle class people and fewer fruit and veg stalls selling cheap produce. Coun Cookson, who is executive member for regeneration, says there are still plenty stalls selling a wide variety of good value, fresh food from fruit and veg to cheese and coffee, along with a thousand and one other items. "It's vibrant and I enjoy shopping there," he said. Shoppers also go to the Grainger Market to stock up on cheap cigarettes but we won't hear many Lib Dems shouting about that.

Newcastle's own Barmy Army was out in force to cheer on the city's Lib Dems, who have formed a cricket team to help fight the flab, in their first match against Blyth old boys.

Despite monsoon conditions, the Lib Dem team, led by former Durham Senior League bowler Philip Lower, were cheered on from start to finish by their faithful followers huddled under their umbrellas.

Unfortunately, it wasn't enough and the councillors were beaten despite a spirited knock from the W G Grace of the team, Gerry Keating, who top scored.

Meanwhile, following Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott's exploits, Labour councillors might consider challenging the Lib Dems to a game of croquet. As Labour group leader, Coun John O'Shea, said: "We have a ready made ringer."

More revelations about the school days of South Shields MP and Environment Secretary David Miliband.

Mr Miliband has already confessed that as a teenager he was a bit square and being a fan of Elvis Costello was about as wild as it got.

Now I can reveal the young Miliband never actually managed to attend any of his rock hero's concerts.

Still, Mr Miliband, a pupil at Haverstock Comprehensive School in London, did enrol for extra maths at nearby Camden Girls' School.